CHAPTER 93: RAYNAUD(I)

Sitting at the corner bench of the Class-B, a brown-haired young girl with slight freckles over her cheeks looked outside, at the birds freely flying in the air. Slowly, her brown eyes gazed back at her homeroom teacher, observing him with a disinterested look.

"Ciana. Ciana," she heard the student beside him, one of her classmates, a short-haired blonde, observing her with a worried look. Turning to her, she slightly raised her eyebrows, asking what she wanted.

"You okay? You look really pale?" The short-haired blonde murmured, at which Ciana simply nodded before looking at her bluish fingers. They were tingling a little, but there was no pain in them. It was a genetic condition she had, but the doctor said there was no need to worry. She just needed to avoid the cold for the most part, and it should get better.

Then, with a bright fake smile, she added,

"I just had a cold last night. The doctor said I am a little allergic to it, but it should be fine as long as I keep myself warm."

A lie.

"Everything is fine. Don’t worry too much about it," she gestured.

Another lie.

The class continued for a few more minutes before an attendant came, gaining the attention of everyone who was present. He reached the teacher, asked for permission to make an announcement.

There it is. Once again. Ciana sighed in her heart. She knew what this announcement was about, and her heart ached to see it really happening this time.

"Ciana Grace," the attendant called out before adding," the principal is calling for you."

Under the curious gaze of everyone in the class, she nodded before standing up and silently leaving from there. Her classmates, though curious, could only murmur, wondering what she had done to be called by the principal.

Walking behind the clerk, her shoulders drooped as she slowly reached the principal office. The big door that usually welcomed her as the scholar girl now looked like a hell-gate that would destroy her entire future.

Opening the door, the clerk went in first, before Ciana followed behind, ready to face the problem that she had been avoiding until now.

With a slight sigh, she walked in, prepared to explain or perhaps make an excuse for her situation again. Perhaps if she were to beg, he might pity her and give her a few more months.

But where am I gonna find $12,000 for the fees? And what about the next few months? She mumbled in a low voice before looking at the principal.

"Hmm? Ciana? Why are you here?" The principal asked, a bit confused. His eyes looked at Ciana, before he looked at the attendant walking a paper towards him.

The attendant then placed the notice paper on the table, which the principal read silently before looking at Ciana once again.

"Sir. My mom and dad have separated. My mom ran away with someone, and Dad... he was supposed to take care of me, but he too, stopped any contact with me. I heard he was getting married next month," she said the truth.

Perhaps because it was too much to bear alone? Perhaps she was trying to gather hope from anywhere possible? She said everything that was present in her mind.

"Ciana," the principal looked at her for a few seconds, listening to her story but also ready to say something.

"Sir, I have joined a part-time job that pays $2000 and, using the saving I have, I will make sure to pay the money. Just give me 3... no, 2 months. I am even planning to leave my apartment and live in a cheaper block. Sir-"

-Bam!

"CIANA!" The principal shouted as he looked at Ciana getting more agitated with each passing moment. Though the next words he said,

"Ciana Grace. Your fee has been paid."

"Huh?"

Made her look confused.

She looked at the principal, trying to see if he was lying or not, but there was no hint of sarcasm on his face.

"Not only for this semester but for all of them. It was a boy, said he was your brother. He came and submitted the total fees of $37000 at once," the principal added, making her even more shocked than before. All the more because...

I don’t have a brother.

Ciana had a few cousin-sisters but no brothers. Not even distant ones except one of her 3-month-old cousins, who she was pretty sure wasn’t the one who had paid her fees.

Just who could have...? Confused, Ciana looked at the principal, who simply continued,

"About the notice. It was issued this morning, so we forgot to take it back. You don’t need to worry about it too much."

He pondered before adding one last statement,

"Also, you are our scholar student Ciana. You should have asked for our help first before trying to get any shady part-time jobs. Please reach out to Mrs. Soria tomorrow morning. I will send a letter to her, who will help you apply for a school-specific job that would help you both with your studies and financial matters."

Ciana could only nod, a bit dazed, as she looked at her principal before thanking and leaving from there, her mind still wondering just who could have paid that much in fees for her.

A huge burden on her shoulders was lifted, making her wonder exactly what was going on? Was it secretly her father who paid? Or perhaps someone rich had a crush on her?

Ciana’s fantasies started to reach in a rather interesting direction.

The school hours passed fast as the despondent Ciana was in a brighter mood today. When the teacher and the classmates asked why she went to the principal, she simply said that a few financial troubles delayed her fee. Though it was paid today.

Later she also laughed more cheerfully than before, talking with her classmates and answering any questions that the teacher asked. The difference between before and after was akin to day and night.

Summing up the classwork, Ciana walked back to her apartment building, her eyes carefully looking out for hooligans in the area.

These were gangsters who would often harass the girls, and many times even she became a victim of it. There were also a few incidents of kidnapping here and there, which made Ciana extra careful and often return before sunset.

Though today was different...

"Have you heard? That gangster gang was caught in drug and firearms dealing. I saw the police raiding the entire area, clearing any of those."

"Yeah. This area will finally be free from those filths."

"I can finally walk free without worrying about any theft or harassment."

"This is Karma."

She heard the talk of nearby people before witnessing a military bus filled with at least a dozen of those gangsters chained up and tied. From the dark spots on their faces, it seemed as if they had been beaten badly before getting caught.

What is going on today? She wondered about the previous incident and this one. Things were somehow working in her favour at every point.

Ciana was surprised. She looked at those gangsters for a few more minutes. A few of them, she remembered better than the others, and a few she had never seen before.

She silently thanked the heavens for making this area safe and getting these bastards arrested before walking towards her apartment building.

Shit! Aunt Diya! Ciana cursed as she looked at a plump woman walking towards her with a bright smile on her face. She was the owner of the flat that Ciana rented, making her often scream at Ciana whenever the rent was due.

It was especially bad these days because the rent was due for more than 2 months.

Searching for a spot to hide, Ciana wanted to avoid her at all costs. She looked around and found a corner that she could use. Though despite having enough distance between them.

"Oh! My sweetheart Ciana!" Aunt Diya called Ciana out loudly. From a distance, she walked with slight haste, her arms widened, reaching out to Ciana with a bright expression on her face.

Huh? Ciana almost tripped on her feet before once again looking at the cheerful Aunt Diya, ready to hug the poor old Ciana.

"My lovely girl. Are you okay?" She hugged her tightly, almost suffocating her for a few seconds before leaving Ciana and looking at her with the same bright smile as before.

With the most joyous voice she then added," you didn’t tell me you had such a nice brother?"

Ciana’s steps halted, her eyes flickered, her pupils constricted as she dumbfoundedly looked at her landlady. Shock took over her expression as the pale face turned even whiter than before.

This?!! What is... going on? Ciana was alarmed now. First the principal and now even the landlady.

"He paid all your rent and even gave me an advance for one year. Such a sweet kid. Also, he even got me this beautiful shawl and this cake. That kid really knows how to make someone happy! Hahaha!" The aunt laughed out loud, making Ciana’s heart skip a beat with each sentence.

Every word made more anxious, making her feel that something was wrong. Who was this guy? Why was he helping her? What was his purpose?

A dozen thoughts jumbled in her mind as the entire conversation with the principal played all over again. Though before she could even think of an appropriate answer, the real killer information came...

"Oh! Since you were out, I gave him the key to your apartment. He should be there waiting for you."